AN: A big thanks to people who are still following the story, some of you might feel that the story is a bit rushed, and I apologize, I'm really not good with fillers so every scene is direct to the point. Also just so you know, the story might have 6 or 7 chapters only. Again, I prefer it that way. Multi chaptered stories are not my expertise I guess.. Expect more angst and drama and lemon (?) on the next chapters. And since a lemon scene might be inevitable, I'm changing the rating to M. Please feel free to comment in constructive criticisms..

Thanks to those who reviewed: SexyBVirgo, irmina, ben4kevin and Suriaa

Thanks also to people putting this on fave and follow lists


Beta: SexyBVirgo Thanks for allotting your time to this fic.. And most importantly; thank you for updating The Proposal! You're really amazing!

BROKEN SONNET

Chapter 4

When I came to, the first thing I saw was the grief stricken features of Cross. The pain hit me all at once at the sudden onslaught of yesterday's havoc. Tears immediately streamed down my face and the constriction on my chest came back. Cross noticed my heavy breathing and instantly held my hand. He gently placed his arms on the back of my neck and shoulders and lifted half of my body, then cradled me in his arms.

"Cross, Kaname betrayed me" I whimpered, my voice weak from all the crying that I'd done.

My stepfather tightened his hold on me, while he looked far away, I ca see glimmer of tears on his eyes and realized that Cross was going through the same pain which I confirmed as he looked at me. "Zero please calm down, I know this hurts a lot but it's taking a toll on your heart. The doctor came here just a while ago and advised me to get you somewhere where you can relax. But I don't want to do that, not until you give Kaname a chance to explain his side of the story."

I freed myself from Cross' embrace and got up; looking at the same direction he was staring at earlier to keep another wave of tears from coming. "He killed Ichiru dad. And the worst thing is I have forgotten it till now. I failed my brother all over again." When I noticed Cross was speechless I went on; "Its funny how I remembered vividly everything Kaname has done for me when I was young but not my brothers death, my poor brother." I buried my face in my knees sobbing, as my mind recalled my twin's bloodied body beside Kaname. Cross placed his hands on top of my head in a soothing gesture and I was forced to face him as I went on. "I don't want to believe it Cross because… because I love Kaname, I love him so much…" I admitted. "But it makes sense, how Ichijou found out about the old house…. And he sent me a message dad, to stay in school, to wait for him, and that's how Ichijou found me. He never told me about Ichiru and you about Rido because he was planning to betray us all along." I'd finally accepted the truth that Kaname did deceive us and admitting this was not easy, but there's nothing left, no more reasoning that will be in favor of Kaname, all my belief in him shattered as I remembered what he did to Ichiru that night. I held on to my chest feeling the familiar pain that I foresee will not disappear.

Cross gave me another embrace. "Zero, whatever happens, be strong.. for us."

I cannot reply to that. I cannot guarantee it. But I held my father back, to give him fake assurance. That's all that I can manage right now.

The moment with Cross was interrupted, as Kaito suddenly barged in, bringing in the news that I wasn't ready to hear yet.

Kaname had been captured.

Kaito must have seen how the news had affected my already weakened body since he had stopped after the announcement and took Cross' place to embrace me. "Leave it to us for now Zero and rest. We'll get the truth for you"

I tried to soothe Kaito as I had done with Cross, meeting him at eye level. "I'm fine. I need to be there. To see how Kaname will deny and answer Ichijou's accusations. I need to hear it."

"Zero…Ichijou's dead"

"What! How?" It was Cross who exclaimed.

Kaito gave me a pat, a loving touch on the cheek and stood up. "Apparently, he had used some kind of hypnotism on one of the guards to hand over the silver dagger which he plunged on his heart. It was suicide."

I remembered what the old vampire had said yesterday. They were just pawns which can be replaced anytime. Will Kaname do the same thing too now that he has been captured? Even with all the hate I'm feeling for him for what he did to Ichiru, a part of me that still loves him dreaded to see that day.

"Anyway, you can't go there yet Zero not until you calm yourself. Leave it to us for now. We'll make sure he will not commit the same thing Ichijou did. Not until we get answers at least." Kaito continued on, his voice harsh, anger obvious within him as I saw how tightly he clenched his fist. I've got to admit that they were right. I can't face Kaname yet, not when everything is still raw. I let my father and brother go and I just sat on my bed, while different kinds of ardor filled me. I don't know how I will react when I see Kaname.

Not when feelings of love and anger are battling inside me.

~~KZ~~

Hours passed and even though I haven't calmed down a bit, I decided to go to where Kaname was held. My entire being was shaken to the core and I don't know if I'll be able face him long enough, but I know I have to. This is the only thing I can do for my brother; to make the one responsible for his death feel the pain and suffering he was put through.

The same pain he had me suffering right now.

I can hear the sound of whips landing on someone's skin even before I approached the confinement where the pureblood was held. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I stood in front of the bars, when I opened it finally; I gazed upon a scene so harrowing I wished I was spared from seeing it.

Kaname's hand and feet, bound with silver shackles that were burning and seeping through his skin as Ichijou's had before, His head was hung low and he was not even making any sound, while Kaito landed continuous lashes on his back. I held on to the bars of this dungeon, trying my best not to break down at the sight of the one I loved being tortured, I want to scream at Kaito even to Cross who just stood there to stop it, to have mercy on Kaname, but I cant; not when his face reminded me on how my brother looked when he died and the guilt that accompanied it.

Not when I knew he was planning to do the same to me.

Kaito stopped his lashing when he spotted me, I can feel his anger at my presence. When Cross looked on my direction and uttered my name, Kaname lifted his head.

"Zero!" He called my name with his now weakened voice and tried to stand up. Kaito was about to give out another lash, but Cross stopped him from doing so. My stepfather then glanced my way urging me to come closer while he and Kaito went further back, to give me room to speak to Kaname.

I stood a bit from Kaname to keep myself from seeing the evidence of the torture done to him. He tried to get closer to me, even though the shackles were preventing him from doing so. I flinched at the tinkling sound of his chains as they slithered across the floor "Zero, please don't believe what Ichijou said; you know I could never hurt you." He said, boring his eyes into mine.

"Why would I believe you Kaname? You killed my brother!" I cried. I wasn't able to prevent my tears from flowing out.

Kaname's eyes widened at my last remark. He bowed his head again, placing his battered body at my feet. "Zero, I might have killed Ichiru, and I know its unforgivable but I didn't betray you; I never did..please I beg you Zero believe me." It was then that Kaname wailed while holding on to my knees.

I removed his hand and sat down, forcing Kaname to meet my eye. "So this was your plan all along? To manipulate me, make me believe with your loyalty, making me fall for you? How can you do this Kaname? Wasn't Ichiru enough? Weren't my parents enough for you? Tell me!"

Kaname lifted his tear stained face and tried to focus his eye on me. "I will never do anything to hurt you Zero… I love you."

And that was the biggest insult. He knew those were the words I had waited for him to utter before. And telling it to me know, after the betrayal, after trying to kill me and after the truth about Ichiru was the most painful thing he did to me. He'd just degraded my love for him with his lies. There was no stopping my tears now, my entire being; all that I believed in was crushed, right here at this dingy cell.

"Kaname I hope you rot." I said as my parting words.

A single teardrop fell from Kaname's eye. And it was the last that I saw, before I left.

TBC